No gi guard passes

Ok, so after one very successful training session where I found myself on my back or being taken down but scored a triangle / armbar and a few guillotines, this time I find myself on top, in the guard with...... . nowhere to go.

According to the rules of no-gi comps (I believe) there is no grabbing of the clothing. Usually I would grab the material in the inner thigh and force my elbows down and out etc. etc.

But I found myself struggling to pass anyone's guard. The only thing I pulled off (against an equally as n00b person) was to flip the all the way over onto their front, ending up in the boston crab position.

But all the time in my head I was imagining JOhnnyS's post, "beginners shouldn't do that, it's not high percentage."

So, not wanting to rely on WWF manouvres for my next comp, what are my choices for no-gi guard passes?

place one knee in the middle of opponent's butt
Hands on the hips, pinning them to the floor
Make sure you have good posture, and have your head up, back straight
Now breathe in and arch your back, the ankles will have uncrossed.
Pass as usual.

The first thing I learned was how to pass the guard, incidentally, no gi required. You put your hands on the guys floating ribs (because if they try to sit up, it hurts like a mofo), pushing in. Then like Deadpan (Brand?) said, knee into butt, other knee sideways for balance, arch back and push back. If it's not working, scoot back a bit more and try again.

Here's another method I like to use sometimes when I just can't get my opponent's legs open the normal way. It's sneaky, but a bit advanced and works well with both gi and no-gi:

Put your left hand on your opponent's right bicep.
Nail his arm to the floor.
Put your head on his chest, hips up and walk to your left so that you walk *over* his right arm.
Reach under his back and grab his right wrist with your right wrist.
Now put your left elbow on the floor next to the left side of his neck.
Walk around to your left, keeping control of his wrist and your left elbow on the floor with your hips *low*.
Eventually his legs should open up and you can slide past his guard.

Probably try the can-opener first. It is legal, as long as you don't tap your opponent with it. So you can use it to open his legs, but you have to let go once his legs are open or you can be disqualified.

Probably try the can-opener first. It is legal, as long as you don't tap your opponent with it. So you can use it to open his legs, but you have to let go once his legs are open or you can be disqualified.

Just a little caveat to that: some guys will tap immediately once you put them in a can opener just to get you disqualified in competition. That is, of course, unless neck cranks are legal. If they are, go to town.